Lubricant-retainer.



J. E. THEBAUD. LUBRIGANT RETAINER. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 15. 1909.

Patented May 17, 1910.

INVENTOR [L mmol l.

HN EDWARD THEBAUD, 0I BUFELQ, NEW' YORK, JQSSIGIIGR Gli SNE-HALF T0 i C. NASH, 0F EUFAL, EE?? l enanas.

To all whom it may concer/a:

` Be it known that i, Jenn Enwnnn'irrn- BAUD, a citizen of the United Stateshresiding at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in lubricantretainers for rotating and non-rotatingcontacting'bodies, one body terminating within ofthe other, such as a vehicle-wheel mounted upon an axle or a car-wheel with its journal and journal-box; and I do hereby declare the following to rbe a full, clear, and exact description of my -in v vention, such as will enabie others skilled in the art to which it apport-aine to make and use the same, reference being had to the ac- 'companying drawings, and to gures of reierence marked thereon, which forma part of this specication.

My inventionv relates to improvements inv lubricant retainers.

The object of my invention 1s to provide means between the said contacting bodies and at the end of one of the bodies terminating within the other of the said bodies, to prevent the escape of the lubricant.

To that end my invention consists broadly of one or more sets of rings or devices placed between the contacting bodies which form the bearing, and at one end of the Contacting surfaces of said bearing and having one or more said rin s or devices ixed upon the outer of `said bo les, and forming with said bodies, one or more annular spaces or recesses between the said bodies, while allowing a free working fit between the said bodies and between the inner of said bodies j ,andl the saidA rings or devices.v l make all l and, the said joints, between the parts combined to form the said annular s aces or recesses, absolutely lubricant tight. ccupying the said annular space or spacesor recesses, l provide one or more rings or devices adjusts ly xed upon the-inner of the said bodies and having a free working tit with the outer of said bodies rings or devices thereon; all parts being so arranged that if the lubricant v"as a film within the space required to form the said working lit should passent between the `said bod-ies andrings or devices, it would, of necessity, pass around those rings lor devices adjustably iixedupon the inner of said bodies, first away from, then parallel with, then toward the axis of rotation and Kthen/out from. between the said bodies; but

specification of :teu-.ers ressa-1;.

Application led Heren i5, i969. ernl No. 433,605;

Patented ll', idilio.

. f ina motion of rotation between the bodies,

the said lubricant film, instead of movin toward the axis of rotation and then out rom between the said bodies would here be reversed in motion by centrifugal actionv causing it to move back and away from the axis of rotation.l and exert a pressure to neutralize any outward movement of the remainder of said lubricant in Contact with, the said ring or devices, or between the contacting surfaces of said bodies. With the further means which l provide to seal the lubricant within, I have thus entirely prevented the escape .of the lubricant and demonstrated the retaining qualities ot' my invention.

My invention further consists ci certain details ot construction all of which will be fully hereinafter described and claimed.

, ln the drawings, Figure l. is a longin tudinal .sectional view of a hub and axle.

provided with my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a car wheel, journal and journal box, provided improved lubricant retainer device.

Referring to the drawings, in Fig. 1, 1 is the axle upon which is mounted the hub 2, provided with the skein 3', which has the usual splines 4.. the axle 1, is screwed the nut 6, a washer 7 between the nut 6 and the end 9 with my @n the threaded end l5 ot l there being of the skein E is a cap screwed onto the outer end 9 of the skein?) and forms a lubricantchamber 10; in the outer/wall of which, a plug or stopper 1l closes a hole leading into the chamber l0. Tog'formchannels between the lubricant chamber 10 and the bearing surface i2 of radial grooves 13, 14, "fn the washer 7, be tween it andthe outer e'nd 9 of the skein 3. Atfand near the inne/rend 15 of the skein 3, l provide two sets of rings severally numbered 16, 17, 18 sind 19. Rings 16A and i8 arexed within te skein 8. and are free to rotate against the rings 17 and 19 on the axle 1. The rings 17 and 19 are adjustably ixed upon the axle l and permitfreedom of motion between them' andthe rings i6 and 18 and the skein 3. As additional security, I provide pins 20 and 21 passing through the skein Bend into the ring 16, and also pins 22 and 23 passing through the skein 3 and into the ring lit Upon the hub 2, l have shown fragmentszo'i spokesv 2li and 25.

In Fig. 2, ll have shown a journal 26 assing through wheel 27, standing on a rail 28,

the axle 1,1 provide which rests upon the tie 2). 3() is a journal bearing or box upon which is secured the lubricant casing 31 'forming the lubricant chamber 32. Bolts 33 and SI1 pass through flanges upon the box 30 and the lubricant casin 31 and secure between them the gasket 35. n the threaded end 3G of the journal 26 is screwed the nut 37, there being a Washer 38 between the nut 37 and the outer end of the box 30. Leading into the lubricant chamber 3Q, is the pipe 39, having its outer end closed by the cap 4,0. To form channels between the lubricant chamber 32 and the bearing surface L11, l provide radial grooves 42, 18 in the washer 38, between the said washer and. the outer end of the boi: 30. At and near the inner end 14E of the box 30, I provide the set of rings severally num bored #15 and 46. Ring L.i5 is fixed Within the box 30 and allows freedom of motion between it and the ring 4G, vvhichis adjustably fixed upon 'the journal 26, there-being also freedom oi motion between the ring 4-5 and the journal QG, as well as between the ring 16 and the box 30. As additional security, l provide pins 47 and L18 passing through the box 30 into the ring 45.

ln construction, the lubricant chambers 10 and 32 etlectually seal the lubricant from escape at the outer ends ot the respective axle and journal. At and near the inner end 15 of skein 3, the rings 16 and 13S with the skein 3 and the axle 1, as also at and nearthe .inner end 44- ot the box 30, the ring /15 with the box 30 and the journal 2C torni respective annular spaces occupied by the rings 17 and 19 of Fig. 1, and ring 16 of Fig. 2. All rings 1G, 17, 18, 19, l15 and 46 are adjustably forced into their respective positions illustrated in Figs.l 1 and Q, but in a `manner to allow u tree working tit between rotating and non-rotating suriaces to torni space tor the-lubricating lilm to occupy, as between rings 1G and 17 or between rings 1G and axle 1. The screw pins 20, Q1, Q2, 9.3, 47 and 48 are shown to illustrate one form of further securing, in the positions where they have been torcedtthe rings which these pins respectively penetrate.

ln operation, a lubricantis fed into the lubricant chamber and finds its way to the bearing surface between the contacting bodies through channels provided i'or its passage. 1n the rotation of the parts the lubricant tends to liy off the rings occupying the said annular space or spaces or recesses and centrifugal action prevents itA from backing toward the axis of rotation along the passage out between the contacting surfaces and thus neutralize any mov@ mentot the lubricant iilm which would tend to waste the lubricant from the said con tacting surfaces.

in Fig. 1, rings or devices 16 and 17 may be considered as constituting one set, While 1S and 19 constitute another set. Similarly rings or devices l5 and 46 constitute a setillustratcd in Fig. Q. Additional sets o rings or devices similar in purpose and form to those referred to in Figs. 1 and 2, may be rovided between the contacting, rotating and non-rotating bodies. W'e may also consider a form ot both sets of said rings as disks between Whose radial surfaces We have lubricant film. These disks considered severally in succession along the inner body fit alternately tight and loose upon said inner body While iitting alternately loose and tight Aupon said outer body in a man` ner that each disk one and loose on the other of said bodies. The looseness thus formed creates a Worin ing tit which when occupied by a lubricant film allows such film to be continuous in form.

The details ot' construction of the devices shown in the drawings and described in the above specification may be changed as to form of recess or parts combined to make the Walls and joints of said annular space or spaces or recesses lubricant tight, as Well as to form of rings or devices to Wholly occupy the said spaces or recesses with the said lubricant ihn and yet come Within the scope ot' my invention. rtherefore, I do not Wish to be confined to the special applications of this lubriJant retainer shown in the drawings and described in this specification, hence 14 l claim- L f ln a lubricant retainer, rotating and nonrotating members, one surrounding the otner and ii'iclosing one end ott the infer member, there being one or more annular recesses within and near oneend of the outer member,'one or more rings adjustably positioned upon the inner member and located in said recesses, the walls of said recesses being lubricant tight and closely enveloping said rings, whereby a. lubricant extends from between the bearing surfaces of said members to envelop and contact said ring or rings as a lubricant film, While contacting the inner walls ot said recesses, means for supplying the .lubricant to the device, one of' said memburs and said ring or rings cooperating with the other et said `members to neutralize by centrifugal action the outward movement ot' the lubricant from between the members, by maintaining the said lubricant iilm at the ring or rings, substantially as set Jforth.

JOHN EDW'ARD THEBAUD.

1tlitnesses:

l?. A.. Eraser, d. E. DON'NELL.

tits adj ustably tight `on 

